Shutdown Stalls Trump HHS Proposal on Hoarding of Patient Data

The ongoing government shutdown is delaying the release of two significant health information technology proposals—one to require hospitals and clinics to share patient data with one another and a second to create incentives for electronic health systems to talk to each other.

The two proposed rules from the Department of Health and Human Services have been under review at the White House Office of Management and Budget since September.

The OMB delay is keeping hospitals and health-care systems on pins and needles as they await more clarity on how patient data is shared among medical organizations and look to avoid ...